Spring Sports Highlights 4.8.19

The 2019 First Girls' Golf team started its season campaign facing off against two familiar opponents in Hotchkiss and Ethel Walkers. With its home track having only opened Friday, Westminster hosted the teams by playing a variety of different holes on both the front and back nines. As it turned out, the temperatures were perfect and the sun shining as all of the Martlets enjoyed some good ball striking throughout the afternoon. Veterans Eve Cathcart '20, Elaina Comia '19 and Ishika Nathan '19 engaged in competitive battles right from the start while new arrivals Ellie Cramer '22 and Lara Stone '22 enjoyed playing in their first matches ever. In the end, the girls' team posted its first victory of the season over Walkers but it was a loss to an always deep and talented Hotchkiss squad.

 

 

The Martlets traveled to Northfield Mount Hermon to take on the Hoggers in a thrilling back-and-forth game. The Martlets came out strong and got on the board first within the first three minutes, but the Hoggers replied with two of their own in the next two minutes. Eventually, Westminster maintained a one-goal lead after trading off leading throughout the first half, but the score was even again at 4-4 going into halftime. Captain Georgia Swank '19 was essential on defense helping with transitions to the offense, but Westminster struggled to capitalize on each opportunity, turning over the ball on its offensive end. The Martlets entered the second half with the goal of smarter passes and smarter shots given the even and competitive game. At the start of the second half, captain Blake Cote '19 won the first draw and took it straight to the back of the NMH net to take the lead. But NMH answered quickly and then the back-and-forth one-goal differential continued until the home team took the lead with five minutes to go. The Hoggers did well to kill time, but captain Susie Renehan '19 caused a turnover and started the transition that would tie the game. The ball transitioned up the field to Ridgely Green '20 who then found Ali Hatfield '20 who scored the goal to tie it up at 8-8 with just six seconds on the clock. The teams then went into sudden death overtime with the need to win the ensuing draw and take control of the first three-minute overtime period. Cote won the draw and found Shannon Keefe '19 who scored the game-winning goal and the Martlets beat the Hoggers 9-8 in a thrilling overtime road game.

 

Westminster opened up the game with six unanswered goals before NMH was able to get on the board. The Martlets played a strong first half and went into halftime with a 11-3 lead. Westminster continued to control the play in the second half, finding beautiful offensive options and playing composed through tough NMH defense. Rachel Ha '21 played outstanding in net, coming up with six saves. Kayla Ireland '22 ended the game with a team high six goals. Margaret Kennedy '22 scored two goals and added two assists.

 

Seconds lacrosse faced a determined and talented Greenwich Academy team on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Westminster defense held its own, only allowing two goals in the second half. Rachel Ha ’21 had a solid game in net.

 

On a crisp spring afternoon, the Westminster Martlets took on the Doors of Deerfield up in Western Massachusetts. After a slow first half, the Martlets responded early in the third quarter with consecutive goals by Teddy Schellbach ‘20 and Matthew Westlake ‘22. The Martlets were strong defensively all afternoon, but struggled to put together a coherent offense. Despite the strong performance by Ben Ferrell ‘21 (12 saves), the Martlets could not hold off a relentless Deerfield attack.

 

With six of eight players returning from last year's squad, expectations and spirits were high as the Martlets hosted GA in what was anticipated to be a close match. The contest did not disappoint. Three of the matches went to a third set, and ultimately the Gators were able to win two of those three, securing the win. The first Black and Gold point of the day came in doubles, where Ellie Suit '20 and Clara Ekholm '20 reunited and played a high level of tennis. Down 2-3 after five, the Martlets used strong net play to battle back and pulled ahead to win 8-4. The No. 2 doubles match was also close, but Alex Wolf '19 and Lauren Way '20 fell to their opponents 5-8. In singles, Way was in control throughout her match at No. 2, playing a beautiful full-court match, and won 6-2, 6-3. Wolf secured the third win of the day at No. 6. After losing the first set, she rebounded in a big way winning the second 6-0. She rode the momentum into tie-breaker for the third set and was up 7-1 before her Gator foe recovered and put pressure back on Wolf. In the end, the Sixth Form Martlet captain hung tough to pull out the 10-8 win. Despite the overall loss, the Black and Gold showed great promise in this season opener.

First Boys' Tennis kicked off its season against the Wild Boars. The boys enjoyed the sunny skies and mild temperatures but both teams had to battle winds that gusted over 20 mph at times. Westminster was competitive in doubles as captains Ethan Na '19 and Carl Ekholm ’19 played some exciting points at No. 1 doubles, while Grant McCargo '21 and Scott Wilson '19 also fought hard before eventually falling to their opponents. Choate played well in the singles and won in straight sets at Nos. 2 through 6. Na playing at No. 1 for the first time in his Westminster career, dropped the first set before prevailing 11-9 in a third set super tiebreaker to secure the lone point for the Martlets.

 

On a cold and blustery afternoon, Westminster girls played in their first competition of the 2019 season. Due to the large number of girls on both teams, all of the games were played as doubles matches. While the final outcome may appear lopsided, there were two thrilling matches that went to tiebreakers and, in addition to the two wins, there were close matches with great points. Earning the first 'W' for Westminster were Lily Carrel '19 and Sofia Daniele '22 playing No. 3. In a thrilling tiebreak, first-year players Kristina Oganyan '22 and Olivia Olney '22, playing at No. 1, lost a nail-biter following a long and very evenly-matched set. Also playing in the first round were Eda Chen '20 and Alex Buerck '21 at No. 2 doubles and Sofia Raymond '19 and Izzy Bailey '21 at No. 4 doubles. Next, the courts were turned over to Siena Holowesko '21 and Jessie Kwon '21, playing at No. 5, who also lost a very close match in their tiebreak (5-7). Playing at No. 6 doubles were the entertaining team of Mairead DeFronzo '20 and Annie Brewer '21. In the second thrilling close match that resulted in a win were Chloe Ferro '20 and Lizzy McCoy '20 playing at No. 7. Finally, Elena McGuigan '21 and Christina Zahringer '20 played an abbreviated (due to the cold) match at No. 8.